NEW DELHI: CBI files fresh affidavit in Supreme Court on coal scam

The CBI director Ranjit Sinha on Monday filed a 9-page affidavit in the Supreme Court on the coal scam.

The affidavit states that law minister made some changes in it its status report on investigations into alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks, in what could have a potential bearing on Ashwani Kumar's position.

Paragraphs 18 and 19 are the most crucial part of the affidavit which states changes in the status report were made on the suggestions given by Attorney General and a PMO official as well as the law minister and the joint secretary of the coal ministry.

The affidavit also states some lines were deleted. at the behest of the PMO and the law minister. Former ASG Harin Raval and Attorney General G E Vahanvati were present in the meeting with the law minister, the affidavit filed by the CBI mentions.

The affidavit also mentions that the March 6 meeting was called by the law minister because he wanted to peruse the contents of the status report. Significantly, Congress sources quoted Kumar as maintaining that the meeting was called by attorney general GE Vahanvati.

A day ahead of filing a crucial affidavit in the Supreme Court on coal scam which has rocked the UPA government, the CBI director had affirmed that the agency's probe into the matter was "clean and clear" and that no accused or suspect had been let off.

Source: Times of India (06/05/2013): http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CBI-files-fresh-affidavit-in-Supreme-Court-on-coal-scam/articleshow/19907701.cms